He said in past one-and-a-half month, around 119 samples of suspected swine flu patients from various districts have been sent for tests and so far 69 reports have been received.

"As many as 17 samples tested positive for H1N1 virus, and a 27-year-old man succumbed to the disease in Durg on February 12," Murty said, adding, rest of them are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Health department has sounded alert and issued an advisory to all the government hospitals and medical colleges to take preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.Isolation wards have been set up at Dr B R Ambedkar Hospital and Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) Bilaspur, besides arrangements made for treatment at district hospitals.

Abundant supply of Tamiflu tablets is also being maintained in all hospitals, he added.